Was it possible for an armory worker to steal parts and reassemble a rifle at home?

[Ms15710]

Hi all,

Bit of a wacky question for you, but I was wondering if someone could lend me an answer to this.

Was it possible for an armory worker to steal parts and assemble a rifle at home?

I imagine the process would occur over a longer timeline if they were careful about it, pocketing one or two small parts a day. Of course, sneaking a larger part such as a receiver or a barrel doesn't sound all that much feasible.

Were there officers on station to prevent occurrences like this from ever happening?

Any stories in particular that relate to this?

Thank you to any and all who reply.

Respectfully,
- Michael

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[RCS]

Years ago I recall looking at what was called "lunchbox specials" all of them were not finished with the machine operations
nor serial numbered. The weapons were unfinished 1903A3 receiver and at a different time, an M1 carbine receiver. These
would have to have all the machine work completed then heat treatment.

The Carbine Williams Museum had two early Winchester M1 rifles, no trap WRA RS stocks, early parts including keystone &
comp springs, Winchester logo - but without serial numbers

[tr63]

I spoke to retired civilian worker at the Raritan N.J. site who worked there in the 1950's and he said that items that where slated for destruction were walked out in pieces.

[Bob Seijas]

Yes, although it was far more common with handguns. We did a feature in the Fall 2015 GCA Journal on an IHC: "The rifle featured here is reportedly a Lunch Box gun stolen by two brothers who worked at International Harvester and who claimed that they took it from the factory piece by piece."

[Eaglelord17]

It is always possible. Lunchboxes can hold stuff, etc. I know where I am they used to give gate passes so people could pick up old pallets to burn though they stopped that a decade or two ago, no reason something more valuable couldn't fall into the truck at the same time, etc..

I have seen a decent number of 'lunchbox' special browning Hi-Powers in Canada so it was done to some degree.

Another thing was inventory management wasn't the same back in the day. I was reading about FN's plant where different parts would be stamped with different factory numbers as to what stage a part was at so if a pallet or box of parts were found they could identify what still needed to be done with it as with old school paperwork and the volume of stuff moving around things could get misplaced easily. These weren't small shops and most people were just pumping out parts on their specific machine without much of a grand picture of what was happening.

[Ms15710]

Thank you for your reply.

Is it safe to say then that most of these, or more likely all of these "lunchbox specials" would not have been serialized?

Whether or not that is the case, may I ask when in the process an M1 was serialized?

I ask because I am under the impression that Winchester WIN-13 receivers were actually made in 1943 but not used until Winchester's last contract in 1945. Were they already serialized, which may explain why the sequencing was out of order?

Thank you!

[RCS]

Winchester kept records of the date & year that M1 rifle receivers were stamped with their serial numbers. Canfield's book on the M1 Rifle has a listing of these Winchester serial numbers.

Example: my Winchester serial number 100,931 was stamped with the serial number on Wednesday January 15th 1941

[tiriaq]

In the '60s, I worked in an auto electric parts plant that had a contract to produce 2.75" rocket warheads. I suppose it would have been possible to pitch a couple of pieces from the reject bin over the fence during the night shift, for recovery later. Don't think that anyone ever did. There was a cursory lunch box inspection when leaving after a shift. They were more concerned about pilfered tools and spark plugs.

[Bob Seijas]

With and without serials, depending on when and how they were stolen. There was the famous case at SA where a corrupt worker and a guard sold new complete M14 rifles lifted before the serial was recorded. He sold about a dozen before somebody was caught with one and ratted him out.

[WarPig1976]

Why not? Johnny Cash built a Cadillac,,,,, One Piece at a Time.